Swimming in Japan's lakes
- Published on : 11/06/2025
- by : Lucie G.
- Youtube
Lake Chuzenji, Nikko
© Σ64, wikimedias
Cool temperatures, bathing on landscaped beaches, swimming in the middle of nature... Discover the lakes in Japan where you can swim!
Want to cool off from the Japanese summer heat on your trip? These are the lakes for you! Here are five lakes where swimming is permitted and even recommended! Japan may be known for its heavenly beaches, such as Okinawa, or for its onsen rivers, such as Kawayu onsen, but there are over 4,000 lakes scattered across the archipelago. Here, you'll discover bathing in a completely different setting! Lush greenery and mountains surround most of Japan's lakes, making for a unique bathing experience.
Why swim in a lake?
- Swim surrounded by wild, breathtaking mountain scenery!
- The calm waters of a lake are perfect for swimming, kayaking and pedal-boating.
- Gentle bathing: Most of the lakes in which bathing is permitted are freshwater lakes, so you can enjoy a swim in optimal conditions.
- Take advantage of water sports: canoeing, pedal-boating, windsurfing... The lakes' fine sandy beaches have everything you need for a refreshing summer's day !
Mount Fuji
© Sanjeevani Marcha, Unsplash
What you need to know before swimming
As is the case everywhere, not all lakes in Japan are open to bathing. You can't swim in Lake Kawaguchi, for example, or in Lake Ashi. What's more, there are special bathing areas set aside for you to swim in complete safety. The opening of these often depends on the season, usually summer. Feel free to search for these areas on Google Maps, or ask at the information centers near the lakes, to find out more.
Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa, also known as Biwako, is Japan's largest freshwater lake. Located between the city of Kyoto and the Japanese Alps, this lake is bordered by several beaches where families and friends gather when temperatures rise, to enjoy its shores.
We recommend :
- Omi-Maiko Nakahama Beach: The emblematic beach of Lake Biwa, with its clear water and just 45 minutes from Kyoto, perfect for a day getaway!
- Makino Sunny Beach: On the north shore of the lake, a little less crowded than the famous Omi-Maiko, swim surrounded by pine trees and the surrounding natural landscape!
Makino Sunny Beach
© Catyasu, wikimedias
Lake Biwa and its beaches are easily accessible via the JR Kosei and Biwako lines, which run around the lake, making it one of the most popular bathing spots around Kyoto! As Lake Biwa is a very popular spot, there are numerous hotels (some of them luxury) with private beaches dotted around its shores. If you're not staying overnight, you can still enjoy the lake for a price.
Discover Lake Biwa by bike!
Lake Motosu - View of Mount Fuji
The clearest of Mount Fuji's 5 lakes, located in the Five Lakes region, Lake Motosu is an ideal spot for water sports such as canoeing and sailing. Famous for being the lake depicted on the back of 1000-yen banknotes, Lake Motosu offers views of Mount Fuji on clear days, making the place all the more charming.
Dragon Beach (ドラゴンビーチ) and Fan Beach (ファンビーチ) are our two recommendations if you want to dive into Lake Motosu. However, don't expect fine sandy beaches where you can sunbathe like in Okinawa! These places are perfect for an afternoon on the water, admiring the scenery from a paddle or canoe.
Tip : Sail on the lake aboard the Moguran, a glass-bottomed boat that lets you discover the lake's wildlife!
Admire the Five Lakes region with our excursion!
Lake Inawashiro - Fukushima
Undoubtedly one of Japan's most beautiful lake beaches, Shidahama, on the eastern shores of Lake Inawashiro in Fukushima prefecture, leaves unforgettable memories.
The lake is surrounded by mountains, whose slopes are covered with a thick layer of vegetation, a typical Japanese landscape. The setting is magnificent, as are the sandy beach and the water! Many water sports are available, including pedal-boating and canoeing. You can also camp on the shore. Please note: this beach is also a gathering place for swans in winter. You can even take a trip around the lake aboard the swan- and turtle-shaped boats, Hakuchomaru and Kamemaru!
Lake Inawashiro in front of Mount Bandai
© Σ64, wikimedias
Lake Inawashiro swans in winter
© Fumihiko Ueno, wikimedias
Lake Tazawa - Akita Prefecture
Even in northern Japan, in Akita prefecture, temperatures can easily reach 35 degrees! That's why, on the shores of Lake Tazawako, Japan's deepest lake (423 meters), a summer bathing area has been set up for everyone to cool off. The beach is made of white sand, the water is azure and you can see fish swimming in the transparent water! Take a pedal-boat ride to admire the fantastic view of Towada-Hachimantai National Park!
Lake Tazawa from Gozanoishi Shrine
© By 掬茶 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95373549
Lake Chuzenji - Nikko
Near Nikko, Japan's historic city, Lake Chuzenji has a beach on its western shores. The Senjugahama beach is surrounded by natural forests and can be reached by bus or footpath. From here, the view of Mount Nantai is magnificent, and the banks of the Yanagisawa River, which joins the lake, are dotted with pink and white primroses. Picnic tables are available, making the beach an ideal stopover on your hike.
